Love You to Pieces!

Hello friends!  I'm so happy I was able to make another card using the Our Daily Bread Designs April new release before having my surgery!  As I post this, I am preparing to have surgery tomorrow afternoon.  I am totally at peace with the decisions I have made for my surgery, and am not anxious at all!  In fact I am looking forward to finally getting this cancer out of my body and moving on to the next phase!

I used Quilted with Love for my sentiment, and the Log Cabin Quilt Die to create my "corner" treatment.  I offset that with a die from the ODBD  Decorative Corner Die set, and I cut the sentiment with an ODBD Mini Tag Die.  I matted everything with Neenah Solar White 140 lb card stock and the patterned papers are from the new Americana Quilt Collection.  Quick and simple but I am really loving this new quilt die!  I hope to get the rest as soon as I'm back up and able to create again.

This journey with cancer, chemo, surgery and soon radiation has really offered many special blessings along the way, in spite of the difficult times!  One of those blessings has been how many people have stepped up to help us in some way,  and whom I truly do love to pieces!!!  Words can't even begin to express my gratitude to my family and friends for all they have done to help during this time!  I have a feeling I will be writing thank you notes for a long time to come and still won't be able to thank everyone!!!  Friends and neighbors have brought us meals,  given gift cards to restaurants so my hubby can pick up a to go order on days I'm not up to cooking,  sent innumerable gifts and hand made treasures from the heart which have nourished our bodies, our souls and our spirits, blessed us with visits, calls, cards, and most especially prayers!  How can I ever thank them enough?  I really can't, but I can try... and that is with just a simple word of thanks and love to all the wonderful people who have blessed us so!  If you are among those who have been praying for me... please accept my note of gratitude and love!!!  I truly feel blessed beyond measure!!!  

Hugs! 

Welcome to the April ODBD release!

Hello friends!  Welcome to the ODBD April release!   I'm so happy to be feeling well enough to make a card to share for this release!  I have completed most of my chemo, which I considered the most difficult phase, and I have my surgery date for April 6th.  Thank you all so much for your prayers, and I would love it if you'd remember me on Wed. as I have surgery!  

In the meantime, I was thrilled to play with a little bit of the April release.  I used the new Log Cabin Quilt Custom dies,  the Quilted With Love stamp set for my sentiment, and the ODBD Cozy Quilt Paper Collection.  I also used the previously released Layered Lacy Squares Dies, and Filagree Frames Dies. 

My card is on a Very Vanilla base, and a much cherished Sage Shadow mat was used, which I embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder, and ran white ink over the raised embossed parts. I then cut the various patterns out from the new  Cozy Quilt Paper Collection, and began assembling my Log Cabin Quilt.  I decided to use a vanilla base for the quilt, so I cut an entire quilt pattern from vanilla and left all the pieces in it, adhering it together on the back with tape.  Then I adhered my patches to the vanilla, giving my pattern just a tad of lift instead of removing the corresponding vanilla strips and inlaying the patterned pieces.  I like this look personally, but you could certainly inlay it if you preferred.  

Folk lore says that the log cabin quilt represented cabins on the prairie with red center squares for the hearth, sunny warm tones on one side (representing the sunny side of the house) and cooler or dark tones on the opposite side representing the shady side of the house).  Because all the papers in the new collection are patterned, I used the log cabin quilt die to cut a perfectly matched red solid from the packaging for the paper.  I used the warmer yellows and reds on one side and the cooler greens on the other. I die cut a Lacy Square from vanilla card stock, and adhered the quilt to it.  I liked how just a tad of the lacy edges peeked out behind the quilt, making it quite proportional to the over all size of the quilt.  The sentiment is stamped and cut with a Filagree Frame die, and adhered below the quilt. Then I popped up the entire assembly using foam tape.  To finish the card I used a couple button pins, which I passed through a seam binding bow and crimped to the back and cut off the tips, then adhered that to the card with hot glue. I love how it came out and I must say... in all my quilting years, I have never created a log cabin quilt so quickly!!! 

I hope you have had time to see the entire release!  If not you can see it on the ODBD Blog.  Also, as always, there are prizes for hopping along with the design team!  Three randomly selected winners will each receive a $25.00 Gift Code to the ODBD Store just for leaving a comment on the Design Team's cards!  You have until April 2, 2016 at 9:00 EDT to leave your comments for a chance to win!  Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on April 3rd, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

To recap, here are the new release products I used today:

Here are the links to the Design Team's Blogs:

Cathy * Dawn * Lori * Robin * Julie * Sandee 

* Chris * Grace * Lisa * Sabrina 

* Diana * Angie * Melissa

Thank you so much for stopping by!!!

Blessings,

ODBD Anniversary Celebration Week- Three Favorites!

Hello friends!  Today some of the ODBD designers are sharing 3 of their favorite cards from this past year, as part of the week long celebration of ODBD's 8th Anniversary!

Prize Information: 

Three randomly selected winners will each receive a $15 gift certificate to the ODBD Store just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until March 22, 2016 at 9:00 p.m. EDT to leave your comments on the Designers Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on March 24th, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

 This is a pocket card with a pull out book mark.  The card base is Neenah Solar Crest White 140lb stock.  On that I layered a piece of design paper from the ODBD Chalkboard Paper Collection.  Then I cut a curvy edge with the  Leafy Edged Borders dies and cut my diagonal pocket to fit.  I then embossed that panel and adhered it with tacky tape on the bottom and left side.  I cut my removable book mark/tag with the ODBD Vintage Label dies, and Vintage Flourish Pattern die set. I stamped the sentiment from the new Beauty stamp set on a scrap of design paper in my stash.   I decorated the tag with one size of the new Pretty Posies die set, a Fancy Flourish die cut, and I stamped and die cut the little butterflies with the Butterfly and Bugs stamp set and matching Butterfly and Bugs die set. I added a corner die cut from the Ornate Borders and Flowers die set to the top and punched a hole, passing thin satin ribbon through that.

The pocket itself was decorated by cutting 2 of each of the 3 sizes in the Pretty Posies set from white card stock and sponging with distress ink.  I then used my embossing tools to shape each layer and glued them together.  I cut three of the largest leaves in that set and stenciled while still in the die, then shaped them the same way.  Some Stickles in the center, a  little gauze, ribbon and a few more butterflies finished it off.

For the card above, I used the Home Sweet Home set for my sentiment.  I used the  ODBD Custom Window  Dies, Shutter and Awning Dies, and Flower Box Fillers.  I also used Antique Labels and Border Die set to cut the sentiment with, and Fancy Foliage.  I used the  Butterfly and Bugs  stamp to stamp and heat emboss the butterfly on vellum, and cut it with the ODBD Custom Butterfly Dies & Bugs Die.  The design paper is the ODBD Shabby Rose Paper Collection.

For this card, I used the wonderful Belles Vignes, Trois Jolis Papillons, and Psalm 23 for my stamps.  I also used the matching dies, ODBD CustomTres Papillons, and another die, ODBD Custom Birds and Nest, along with the  Fancy Foliage and Vintage Labels dies. 

If you'd like to see all the samples in one place, be sure to stop by the ODBD Blog to check it out! 

Congratulations Kelley and Rick, and the entire ODBD family!  May God continue to bless you all!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Here are the links to my DT sisters.  Don't forget to stop by each and leave a comment for a chance to win!

   Angie * Cathy * Chris * Dawn * Grace * Julie

* Lisa * Lori * Robin * Sabrina * Sandee

Welcome to the ODBD Special 8th Anniversary Release!

Hello friends!  Welcome to the ODBD 8th Anniversary Special Release!  This release is near and dear to my heart!  You can read all about it on the ODBD Blog, but the bottom line is these sets came from a work of heart.  For the past 19 weeks I have been going through chemo treatments for breast cancer,  and I began saving a list of special Scriptures as I came across them, that meant a lot to me. I needed to focus my heart on the hope I have in my Lord and Savior, and the strength and peace that I needed that only He could give.  As I read different books people had given me on fighting cancer and the ups and downs of the journey, I started thinking about some  card sentiments I thought would be perfect for serious illnesses and other special card needs beyond just the typical "get well" card.  One day,  I sent this to list to  Kelley.  It turns out that the special anniversary release this year came from that list, as she selected the ones that she liked best.  I'm so happy to have these Scriptures in stamps now to use for so many different needs!  I have learned through card drives for MD Anderson through SCS, and other card needs I have had, that there are times (like when someone has a terminal illness, for example),  that a traditional "Get Well" card is not always the appropriate sentiment for those needs.  For me personally, God's Word is what brings me hope and encouragement, and I find nothing more uplifting to my soul than a Scripture that reminds me of my hope and assurance in my Savior and Lord, and His perfect plan for me.  I also think some sentiments that remind us that someone is praying for us, or just sending love can be very uplifting.  And so.... these sets were designed.  I'm so thrilled to have them to use, and in beautiful classic ODBD style and beautiful font!  Thank you Kelley for making them in to stamps!  It brings tears to my eyes!

So today, in appreciation of ODBD customer support through the past 8  years, Kelley is offering a special 8th Anniversary prize package!!! 

Eight randomly selected winners will each receive a $25 gift certificate to the ODBD Store just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until March 19, 2016 at 9:00 p.m. EDT to leave your comments on the Designers Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on March 24th, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

These are the first cards I have made in quite a while as I've been too weak to do much but I did so enjoy working with these sets and dies!!!  For the card above, I used Healing Prayers for my verse.   I also used the beautiful new dies released today: Lavish Layers and Filagree Frames.  Additionally I used Lovely Leaves and Shabby Rose Paper Collection, and some tiny pearls and Prima roses.  

The card below uses the new Grace's Hope, and Lavish Layers dies.  Additionally, I used BoHo Background dies, Double Stitched Rectangles, Birds and Nest Dies  (flowers), Bugs and Butterfly clear stamps and Bugs and Butterfly dies, as well as the Shabby Rose Paper Collection.

 Here are the new release products I used today:

Healing Prayers

Grace's Hope

Lavish Layers

Filagree Frames

I do want to thank ALL of you who have been faithfully praying for me!!!  I have felt the power and presence of the Holy Spirit throughout the entire journey.  It was not easy to go through this chemo regimen, and I did have to miss that last 2 weekly doses of one chemo due to neurapathy it caused in my hands and feet.   However as of Mar 15,  I finished the rest of the course!!!  Now I get a few weeks to recover and then will have surgery.  I do appreciate your continued prayers as I am very weak and need to get stronger before the surgery.  I believe God has been answering all your prayers, and will continue to do so!  In the mean time, His sweet presence has given such peace and strength!  That is NOT of my own strength but of His!

Thank you so much for stopping by and viewing my samples of this awesome Anniversary Special Release, and I hope you love the release as much as I do!  Please visit my DT sisters and leave a comment for your chance to win one of the 8 awesome prizes being given away!!!

Julie * Sandee * Cathy * Dawn * Lori * Robin * Angie * Chris * Grace

* Lisa * Sabrina * Melissa (Guest Designer)

An Update....a Thank You... and Continuing to Trust in the Lord!

Hello my friends! I hope you are all well!  I know I have not posted in quite a while, and many are wanting an update.  I decided to share another real quick journal entry in my Journaling Bible, and then share an update with you on my health.

First off... this is another of the Our Daily Bread designs Bible Journaling Stamps, Your Heart. I simply stamped it with Memento ink (which does ghost just a bit on the back of the paper), and then colored with Prisma pencils.  I added a sticker from a Tim Holtz pad that simply says trust.  This is a life verse for many, and so appropriate for every one of us every day!  I decided to keep this one simple and uncluttered.  What I love about journaling is that you can always go back and add more as the Lord inspires you!

By way of update... I just had my 13th week of chemo, and I have 6 to go (Lord willing)!!!  I have had a lot of heart issues the past two weeks.  My heart has been racing like I was exercising at a top target rate for my age, only I'm sitting in a chair! My blood pressure also has been jumping all over the place, so last week I had a couple tests, and today when I went for chemo I got good news that all looked good on the tests.  That said, I have some meds that have helped with the blood pressure but the racing heart is still with me... just to keep things interesting I guess.  Anyway... the reason this was so concerning to me besides the discomfort, was that one of the biologically targeted drugs I get does cause heart failure in a  percentage of people, especially in my age range,  and also when in combination with other chemo's (I'm on a total of 4).  I really did not want to go off this medication as it's the one I'm supposed to get weekly for a year, and is specifically targeted to the type of cancer I have and the receptor that feeds it.  Sooooo we have been praying for wisdom for my Dr. as he reviewed my tests and decided whether to continue this medication.  Today's results gave the good news that it is not heart failure caused by this drug and it is OK to continue with it.  Thank you Lord!!!

I will still have to watch what's going on with my heart and while the Dr says it is a side effect of one of the chemo's I am on, medications for it have really only helped with the blood pressure.  My heart is still pitter pattering along at a pretty good clip.  So that continues to be a prayer request.  If it does not go away when I finish my chemo then I will need to have a full cardiac work up and of course if it gets worse before then I will have to do that any way.  I don't share all this for any reason other than to  update you and ask you to be praying specifically for what's going on right now.  I DO believe in the power of prayer!!!  I've seen Him work time and time again, and I know He is working now as well... and it's all for His glory!

I have so many blessings in my life I can hardly count them!  These past couple months have been tough... there's been the good, the bad and  the ugly.... but the blessings far outnumber the ugly! I have realized I have soooo many friends who truly care, and who have come up with some of the most amazing and creative ways to let me know that!  From meals, to gift cards to help with meals, to gifts too numerous to mention:  cards that cover my dining room table when laid out... audio books to listen to when my eyes just can't focus, Christian music to minister to my soul, devotionals and novels to read, hand made afghans and chemo caps, special lotions that truly help with my chemo damaged skin and nails,  wall plaques, flowers, hand made jewelry, a beautiful wooden cross, and so much more!!!  I truly have been brought to tears by the thoughtfulness and love each one has shown me!

I have been blessed with phone calls and visits, and I have to also thank my family for all they are doing to help me!  My daughter Christy, and my granddaughter Lauren come often to help drive me to chemo, and they help clean my house while they are here!  My hubby is also supportive in every way he can and I don't know what I'd do without them all!  Those special texts from my 18 year old grandson bring tears to my eyes.... what a special time this has been for our entire family as we have realized how important it is to say I love you today... often... because tomorrow is not promised! 

I also am so blessed by the ARMY of prayer warriors who are faithfully praying for me, and let me know that!  I really consider prayer to be the most precious gift of all!  When the world says it's impossible.... that's when the our GOD shows His power and glory!  He IS the God of the impossible!!!  I have felt those prayers and I know He is working in my body every day, and He is carrying me through this with very little anxiety or fear!  When those feelings do creep in, I read His Word and pray, and He floods me with comfort! 

Finally... I am thankful for you... my blogging friends!  Knowing you are praying for me brings much encouragement to me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

May you be blessed with His richest blessings!

His Mercies are New Every Morning!

Hello friends!  I do hope you are all well on this cold January day!  

For Christmas I was given a Journaling Bible.  This was something I have struggled with for some time.  I mean, I have my beloved Bible with all sorts of notes written in the margins, and yet somehow the idea of doing artwork to illustrate a passage just scared me.  I first and foremost did not want to have it be about the art.  It needs to remain about God's Word!  However, as I've been home bound for the most part lately, this has been a wonderful way for me to read His Word and then focus on a certain verse or passage that spoke to me at that moment.  I am completely new to this, so I have much to learn but I'm enjoying the process thus far.

The main image above is a stamp, and part of the Jan. release from ODBD, and is called Your Mercies.  The bottom of the stamped image  is just above my hand lettered "Therefore I have Hope" with the pink ribbon.  I was reading this chapter and that phrase popped out at me several times.  I in a special way connected with the words of Hope this time!

God's people had rebelled and sinned,  and God had allowed the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem.  There was much suffering and lament in the land.  However,  in this 3rd chapter and following, the laments turn to reminders and comfort that (3:21) "This I call to mind, therefore I have hope. "(v22) "The Lord's Loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. "( v23) "They are new every morning.  Great is Your faithfulness." 

The author then goes on to say "The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I have hope in Him.  The Lord is good to those who wait for Him.  To the person who seeks Him.  (vs 24-25)  

So in a time of deep suffering, still it was recognized that God is abounding in loving kindness.  It does not please Him to see His people suffer. (However there are times He does allow it for reasons He alone can know... but certainly in part to bring people back to Him through repentance, to be a witness to others of His power and glory, and many more reasons I'm sure).   Because of this knowledge of God's character, came a strong hope and even eventually repentance.  The 21st verse of the 5th chapter says "Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old."  Once you have come to know God's favor, you really don't ever want to live far from Him again!  

My image was stamped with Memento and colored with Prisma Pencils.  I had some shadowing from the ink but almost none from the pencil coloring.  I used a  .01 Micron pen to hand letter the "Therefore I have Hope" and the ribbon and there is some shadowing of that as well. I used Distress Inks to sponge the clouds using a Rosies' Road Show cloud template.  I have plans for the other side of this page so I brought the clouds all the way over and will eventually journal the right hand side bar.  I do not really like when heavy artwork is done over the words in a journaling Bible.  I feel like that's crossing the line in some way.  However there are many mediums like the distress inks that lightly sponged on can be read clearly through.  The pencils as well can be read through.  My goal for most of my pages will to either keep most everything to the side bar, or use only light mediums that do not obscure the words.  

I will say that this is the third page I did this week.  I still have things to show or finish and show, but I did want to share this with you for now.  Tomorrow is another Big chemo day for me so I might be out of it this coming week for a while.  Again... thank you all so much for your prayers, cards, messages on facebook, etc.  They mean so much to me!!!

Blessings,

 

My Best Wishes!

Hello friends!   I hope you are all well!

I have been doing a little bit over the past several days to create a card.  Never realized before how much strength it takes to make one little simple card but it seems that way to me right now!  I have good news though!  I am half way through my chemo and am counting down the last 10 weeks with joy, knowing that I'm half way there!  Thanking the Lord for giving me the strength to make it this far, and although I am weak and dragging, I am still chugging along, so all thanks goes to the Lord for that!!!  I so appreciate all your prayers, messages, emails and cards!!!  Thank you!

This card was created with the January release from Our Daily Bread designs, Wishing Well.  I had fun coloring it with Copics, and although I started out trying for a masculine card, I did an about face part way through and added some flower soft and pink paper so I guess it really doesn't qualify any more for masculine, but that's how it goes sometimes!  I stamped the image with a soft brown ink as I wanted to just color it lightly with  monochromatic color tones.  However, that too changed as I went along.  

Anyhow... the image is cut with the ODBD Double Stitched Circles Dies, and the sentiment is cut with the Pennant Dies.  I used just a corner of a die cut from the BoHo Background Die, and I used the Rustic Beauty Paper Collection (not currently available) on a blushing bride mat, and that on a Soft Suede base.  I let the design paper do most of the work and only embellished with a tiny May Arts bow, and the flower soft, which is from a Fuschia Mix.  

It felt good to create a card this week!  I don't get down to my basement studio very often lately, but this was a little bit of happy for me this week!  Thanks so much for stopping by and having a look!  It's so appreciated!!!

IS. 41:10

Do Not Fear, for I am with you!  Do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Thank you Lord,